Draft gear



Oct. 5 1926. 1,602,353

. J. E. FoRsYTH DRAFT GEAR Filed Nov. 15, 1924 2 sheets-heet 1 d; fw

O O OKO-G O G O 0%.@ O

J. E. FORSYTH DRAFT GEAR Il', l

Patente-d Oct. 5, 1926.

JOSEPH E. FonsY'rHQor CHICAGO, 11;.Lrivo1s.v

DRAFT GEA-R.

Application sied Novemberia 1924. qseriariro. 750,077.

` This invention pertains lparticularly to draft-gears of the type utilizing both spring pressure and friction in t-he buing'and pullfingoperations.

`The `primary object. ofthe invention'` is to provide an improved construction which is strong .and durable and-which is capable of utilizing the compressive action of springs and, in an unusually'high degree, frictional resistance of members employed in the draftgear, in the operation of the device.

A further vobject is to provide a simple construction involving few parts, which can be readily assembled. f i

The invention is illustrated in its pre-` ferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in whichf f Fig. l represents a plan view of the improved draft-gear applied to the sub-structure of afcar, which -is shown brokenly; Fig. 2, a. broken vertical sectional viewtaken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a plan sectional view taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view taken as indicated Iat lined ofFig. 3; and Fig. 5, a transverse sectional viewv taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 3.

In the construction illustrated, A, A'

represent longitudinal frame membe-rs vcon-k stituting a part of the substructure ofa car; A2, a transverse plate, or yoke, connecting thelower .portions of the members A and A', A3, atop plate connecting thefupper portions ofthe members A and A'; A4, A4,

a pair ofy front stops `for the draft-gear; A?, A5, a pair of rear stops vforthe.draft-gear, all of said stops being securedtojthe lmembers A and A' g B, a rear follower which is so formed as to provide a housing for springs and wedge members; B', a front follower which is so formed as to provide a housing for springs and wedge-membersg C, an interposed wedge-actuating member; D, a yoke which encompasses the members B and B', said yoke being provided at its outer end with furcations D' provided with vslots D2; E, a draw-bar which is equipped with the usual coupling-head (not shown) v and F, a connecting pin which extends through perforations in the draw-bar and has its ends adapted to work in guide slots F', with which the frame-structure is provided.

The follower members B and B extend vtransversely with relation to the car-body and have their ends confined between the web-portions l of, the: longitudinal lmembers l A and A'. In effect, eachfof 'theimembers B and 1B' comprises :a hollow block. `With-y inonef-end ofeach block islocated va coil spring,vor apair ofcoil springs, preferably the latter. One epair of these springs .is designated 2, and the rother pair isdesig-` nated 3. The springs are similar, butx-.are disposedvin opposite ends ofthe springho-lders, or followers', B, B'. :Each pair of springs bears at oneend againstthe-end wall Vof the spring holder, and vat the vother end against a transversely movable wedgemember 4;. Fach wedgermember 4 is-provided with an obliquely disposed wedgev'surface 4a, such Wedgesurface'preferably lying ina Vvertical plane. -Between the end lwall 5 of the spring-:and-'wedge-holder B, `or B',

asthe case maybepand thewwedge-,member -l t'is located a wedgefmembery of1substan tially triangular formand-y havingf-.anwoblique wedge-surface 6'CL opposed to the Awedge-surface 4a. The hollow-blocks 'B zand B are provided at their adjacent :sides witlrwal-ls the yadjacent surfaces of the-,wedge-'members 6. The member-Gis also A,provided at its vends cand on opposite sidesl with bearing surfaces 10 whichengagethea-walls7 'of thefhollowblocksBandB'. v The member vC is shown provided with cored cavities 11 which communicate with passages Illa leading to the exterior of the member. The various wedge-members are shown provided with cavities 12 communicating with outlet passages 12a.

are formed by cast-ing operations.

The operation of the improved draft-gear will be readilyunderstood from the illus trations given. Normally, `the members B and B' are confined between-the front stops A4 and rear stops A5 of the sub-structure of the car-body. Whena pulling action is exerted through the draw-bar E, the inner- `most follower B is drawn forward away from the stops A5. As the member B moves towards the member B', the force exerted The mem-y ber C and the wedge-,members preferably` causes the fioating lever C to turn about a central point, and the lever C forces the wedge-members 6 longitudinally of the structure, thereby forcing the wedge-members 4 to move transversely in their bearings and compress the coil springs. A similar action occurs in the baiting operation, that is, when the follower B is forced towards the follower B while the follower- B remains against its stops A5.

It will be noted that the hollow blocks B and B areconiined within the yoke D, which affords a guide for said blocks. `The yoke itself is adapted to slide on the crossbrace A2. However, any suitable means of supporting and guiding the yoke may be provided.

It will be noted, also, that by reasony of the shape of the wedge pieces and the nature of the movement lwhich occurs, an enormous friction is created betw-een the wedgeblocks themselves, between the wedgeblocks and the walls of the hollow blocks (B, or B), and between the rock-member C and the members which it engages. The improved construction provides for an unusually large friction surface, so that the resisting action may be very great without causing the exertion of an undue strain upon a given unity of area.

The advantages of the improved draftgear will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for olearn'ess of understanding; only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

l/Vhat I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a draft-gear, the combination with the sub-structure of a car-body provided with sets of stops, a draw-bar and a suitable yoke connected therewith, of a device 'mounted in said yoke Comprising a pair of followers constituting holders for springs and wedges, transverse springs mounted in said holders, wedge-members adapted to compress said springs, and a wedge-actuating device interposed between said followers and adapted to actuate the wedges when said followers are` forced towards each other.

2. ln a draft-gear, the combination with the sub-structure of a car-body provided with sets of stops, draw-bars, and a yoke connected therewith, of a device mounted in said yoke comprising a pair of hollow blocks having openings in their adjacent walls, coil springs confined in said hollow blocks at opposite ends thereof, transversely movable wedges opposed to said springs, longitudinally movable wedges opposed to said first-named wedges, and a rock-member interposed between said hollow blocks and engaging said second-named wedges and the opposed walls of said hollow blocks.

3. In a draft-gear, the combination vof a pair of followers, a yoke within which said followers are mounted, coil springs disposed in opposite ends of said followers,

'transversely movable wedge-members op-` posed to said springs, wedge-members adapted to actuate said Vfirst-named wedgenrembers, and a rock-member interposed between said second-mentioned wedge-inembers and the opposed walls of said followers,

Vsaid rock-member and the adjacent wedge- JOSEPH E. FORSYTH. 

